Radon vent fan system

ABSTRACT

A radon vent fan system includes an enclosure having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another, and an assembly having a motor and an impeller associated therewith, the assembly retained in the enclosure. The enclosure provides a first condensate path between the air inlet and the air outlet to direct condensate substantially away from the assembly and to the air inlet, with the first condensate path being formed of a channel proximate an inner wall of the enclosure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/970,909 filed Sep.7, 2007 and entitled “Radon Vent Fan System” are claimed under 35 U.S.C.§ 119(e), and the entire contents of this application are expresslyincorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to ventilation. The invention further relates to aradon vent fan system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas. According to the UnitedStates Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the secondleading cause of lung cancer in America. Accumulation of radon inenclosed spaces such as residential settings is particularly dangerousbecause this gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and thus mayremain unnoticed while posing a health risk. The EPA recommendsintervention to provide radon reduction when a radon level is found tobe 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.

Ventilation equipment is known for use in radon applications. In orderto address the potential for buildup of elevated or dangerous levels ofradon, mitigation equipment such as a radon fan may be installed tocreate a low pressure area under the slab so that the radon gas isextracted and expelled outside before it can migrate into the structure.Radon fans can be installed inside or outside a structure, and operate24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

In prior art radon mitigation systems, as shown for example in FIG. 1,inlet and outlet portions 10 a, 10 b, respectively, of a fan unit 10typically are connected to vent pipe portions 12 a, 12 b using a varietyof external fittings 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 while a separate condensatebypass pipe 19 also extends intermediate vent pipe portions 12 a, 12 b,as shown for example in FIG. 1. Such use of external fittings and aseparate condensate bypass pipe increases installation complexity, time,and expense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A radon vent fan system includes an enclosure having an air inlet and anair outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another, and an assemblyhaving a motor and an impeller associated therewith, the assemblyretained in the enclosure. The enclosure provides a first condensatepath between the air inlet and the air outlet to direct condensatesubstantially away from the assembly and to the air inlet, the firstcondensate path formed of a channel proximate an inner wall of theenclosure.

In some embodiments, the enclosure may have a front portion and a rearportion demountably coupled to each other, and the front portion andrear portion may be coupled to each other in a clamshell fashion. Theair inlet may be entirely formed in the rear portion, and the air outletmay be formed by combining the front portion and rear portion. The frontportion may have a cover demountably coupled thereto. The channel may beintegrally formed with the front portion, and the motor may be coupledto the front portion.

A compartment may be provided adjacent the air inlet and incommunication therewith. The compartment may include an opening incommunication with a region proximate the impeller. The channel may bein communication with the compartment.

The channel may be formed when the front portion and the rear portionare demountably coupled to each other.

The air inlet and air outlet may be in aligned relation with respect toa first axis, and the channel may substantially extend parallel to thefirst axis. The enclosure may further include a wall disposed transverseto the first axis for permitting build-up of static pressure capabilityof the impeller.

The air inlet may be disposed transverse to the air outlet, and in someembodiments the air inlet may be disposed substantially perpendicular tothe air outlet.

The channel may be integrally formed with the enclosure.

In addition, a radon vent fan system may include an enclosure having aninlet and an outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another withrespect to a first axis, the enclosure being formed of a first portionand a second portion demountably coupled to each other. The systemfurther may include an assembly having a motor and an impellerassociated therewith, the assembly being retained in the enclosure. Afirst condensate path may be provided between the inlet and the outletto direct condensate substantially away from the assembly and toward theinlet, the first condensate path including a channel proximate an innerwall of the enclosure and substantially extending parallel to the firstaxis, the channel being in communication with a compartment adjacent tothe inlet and the compartment being in communication with the inlet. Asecond condensate path may be provided between a region proximate theimpeller and the compartment.

In some embodiments, the enclosure further includes a wall disposedtransverse to the first axis for permitting build-up of static pressure.Also, the inlet may be disposed substantially perpendicular to theoutlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention are disclosed in theaccompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a prior art radon mitigation system;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an enclosure of aradon vent fan system;

FIG. 3 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is another rear perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a font perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is another font perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is another font perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the front portion of the enclosure of FIG. 2(with the tabs of the rear portion of the enclosure also visible);

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the rear portion of the enclosureof FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the rear portion of theenclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the front portion of theenclosure of FIG. 2 with a fan disposed therein covered by a scroll;

FIG. 15 is another side perspective view of the front portion of theenclosure of FIG. 2 with a fan disposed therein without the scroll beinginstalled;

FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the scroll of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of the scroll of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a side perspective view of the inlet of the rear portion ofthe enclosure of FIG. 12;

FIG. 19 shows additional views of the rear portion of the enclosure ofFIG. 2 including an inside perspective view (19A), an outsideperspective view (19B), a side view (19C), a cross-sectional side viewthrough A-A (19D), an outside top view (19E), and another side view(19F);

FIG. 20 shows additional views of the front portion of the enclosure ofFIG. 2 including an outside perspective view (20A), an insideperspective view (20B), a cross-sectional side view through B-B (20C),an outside top view (20D), a side view (20E), and another side view(20F);

FIG. 21 shows additional views of the scroll of the radon vent fansystem including an top perspective view (21A), a bottom perspectiveview (21B), a cross-sectional side view through C-C (21C), a top view(21D), a side view (21E), and another side view (21F);

FIG. 22 shows additional views of the electrical cover of the radon ventfan system including an outside perspective view (22A), an insideperspective view (22B), a cross-sectional side view through D-D (22C),an inside top view (19D), a side view (22E), and another side view(22F);

FIG. 23 shows a cross-section of the enclosure of FIG. 2 with acondensate drain therein;

FIG. 24 shows another front perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2;

FIG. 25 shows a side perspective view of the enclosure of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 26 shows a side perspective view of the front portion of theenclosure of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front” and “rear” as used herein areprovided as a non-limiting examples of the orientation of features.

In one exemplary application, a radon fan is installed on the exteriorof a house and connected to an exterior venting pipe. For example, anexemplary radon mitigation system includes a radon vent pipe such as a 3inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe extending from sub-slab gravel up to a ventstack discharge point above the highest eave of the roof (e.g., 12inches above the roof surface), and an electric vent fan connected tothe vent pipe. The radon vent fan is installed in a vertical run of thevent pipe, for example near where the radon vent pipe protrudes from thebasement level of the house to the outside.

An exemplary embodiment of an inventive radon vent fan system is shownin FIGS. 1-26.

As shown for example in FIGS. 2-10, a radon vent fan system includes ahousing or enclosure 20 formed with a rear portion 22 and a frontportion 24 coupled together in a clamshell fashion. Enclosure 20includes an inlet 32 which is integrally formed with rear portion 22 inthe exemplary embodiment. Enclosure 20 also includes an outlet 34 ofwhich a first portion 34 a of outlet 34 is integrally formed with rearportion 22 and a second portion 34 b of outlet 34 is integrally formedwith front portion 24.

As can be seen for example in FIG. 13, in the exemplary embodiment, rearportion 22 includes an outer rim 22 a while front portion 24 includes aprotruding rim 24 a. Outer rim 22 a mates within protruding rim 24 a offront portion 24, as shown for example in FIG. 3. Portions 22, 24 may becoupled to one another for example using protrusions such as posts, forexample a post at corner 24 b extending through a hole at corner 22 b.Moreover, as shown for example in FIGS. 8 and 14, front portion 24 ofhousing 20 may include a removable cover 42 for an electric compartment44 b. Cover 42 may be coupled to rear portion 22 for example withfasteners extending through holes 42 a, 42 b and received in rearportion 22. A hole 45 for example may be provided in rear portion 22 sothat wires from electrical compartment 44 b may extend therethrough.

Rear portion 22 of enclosure 20 includes a three point mounting systemin the form of tabs 30. Each of tabs 30 includes a hole therein toaccommodate a fastener such as threaded fastener 31. The vent fanenclosure thus may be fastened to the side of a structure such as ahouse. Two tabs 30 are disposed proximate the inlet 32 (low pressureend), while one tab 30 is disposed proximate the outlet 34 (highpressure end). Such a three point mounting system assists in minimizingvibration and noise transferred between the radon vent fan system andthe house.

In addition, rear portion 22 includes a central wall disposed transverseto line 38 which permits build-up of static pressure capability of thefan.

Turning to FIG. 2, the positioning of the inlet 32, outlet 34, andmotor/fan unit 36 with respect to one another is shown. Inlet 32 andoutlet 34 preferably are aligned about line 38, while being offset frommotor/fan unit 36. Inlet 32 and outlet 34 may open in directionsperpendicular to one another, such that if the inventive radon fansystem were installed in place of fan unit 10 in FIG. 1, inlet 32 wouldbe coupled to pipe portion 12 a, while outlet 34 would be coupled topipe portion 12 b. Preferably, the inventive radon fan system would notrequire external fittings or a separate condensate bypass pipe as shownin FIG. 1.

The exemplary inventive radon vent fan system permits condensate tomigrate from outlet 34 to inlet 32 without interacting with motor/fanunit 36. By placing the motor/fan unit 36 out of the direct path of thecondensate, motor failures due to moisture can be decreased. It is knownthat significant moisture can accumulate in the vent pipe, for examplein cold weather when warm, moist air from underground is circulatedthrough the vent pipe which is exposed to colder temperatures. Theexemplary inventive radon vent fan system provides positive drainage tothe ground beneath the slab or soil-gas-retarder. Thus, condensate dripsinto the high pressure scroll region (an open region although covered bycover 44) such as in direction D, where it flows to region E (as shownin FIG. 15) and then through a small opening such as a notch 60 (shownin FIG. 20B) which may be provided so that the condensate further passesback to chamber 24 c and then down through inlet 32.

Motorized impeller unit 36 includes a motor 36 a and an impeller 36 b.The motor for example may be an external rotor motor, typically with therotor external, as known in the art. The impeller for example may be abackward curved impeller as known in the art. In an exemplaryembodiment, the impeller may have a diameter of 7.48 inches, while themotor may have a power of 88 watts.

As shown in FIG. 14, fan inlet 32 is located at the lowest point of thefan housing, remote from the Venturi inlet 40, such that condensate canexit the fan housing from the low pressure section of the fan. Alsoshown in FIG. 14, the electrical compartment 44 b is disposed in acorner region and is covered by electrical cover 42 shown in detail inFIG. 22. In addition, a scroll 44 is shown in installed position in FIG.14, and is separately shown for example in FIG. 21.

The water path for condensate is shown for example in FIGS. 23-26. Withreference initially to FIG. 14, condensate may accumulate in chamber 24c, which is an enclosed space formed between the wall 24 d of frontportion 24 and a wall 27 formed proximate a portion of a fan covered byscroll 44, as well as rear portion 22. The condensate flows on theinside wall of ducting communicating with housing 20 above the air flowoutlet 34. In the exemplary embodiment, such condensate is directedthrough a channel 50 generally disposed along line 50 a (shown in FIG.24) proximate the perimeter of housing 20 which extends from proximateinlet 32 to proximate outlet 34. Channel forms a condensate drain, andmay be in the form of a tube created by the coupling of opposingportions of rear and front portions 22, 24, respectively. As shown inthe cross-section of FIG. 23, channel 50 need not be circular, but insome exemplary embodiments may be circular. In particular, as seen inFIG. 15, a coupling 43 (partially shown) is attached to and extendsaround air flow outlet 34, being coupled thereto at the circumference ofthe region of greater diameter 34 c (which includes the portions ofoutlet 34 on both rear and front portions 22, 24, respectively). A space35 thus is created between coupling 43 and outlet 34 proximate theregion thereof of lesser diameter 34 d (with space 35 preferablyextending all the way around outlet 34, such that condensate flowing onthe inside wall of the ducting is directed into channel 50, which in theexemplary embodiment is disposed substantially vertical except a shortdogleg region 50 b.

Advantageously, in the exemplary embodiment, channel 50 is disposedsubstantially parallel to the direction of condensate flow (e.g.,vertical). By orienting channel 50 substantially parallel to thedirection of condensate flow between inlet 32 and outlet 34, rather thanperpendicular to the direction of condensate flow, the likelihood offreezing and clogging of channel 50 is lowered. During very coldweather, it is important to facilitate draining of condensate and theexemplary embodiment permits condensate to flow with gravitationalassistance.

Advantageously, the condensate drain of the exemplary embodiment may bemolded into the housing 20. Moreover, because relatively warm air enterscavity 24 c through inlet 32, the space therein may be maintained atrelatively warm temperature to resist freezing of condensate during coldweather.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 18, a gasket 52 may be disposed around inlet32 such that inlet 32 may be press fit to a pipe portion 12 a therebyeliminating the need to apply any sealant to the interface as necessarywith prior art devices. The gasket thus reduces installation and servicetime as well as associated costs.

In the exemplary embodiment, rear portion 22 has a length d₁ of about44.7 cm, a width d₂ of about 33.1 cm, and a height d₃ of about 11.5 cm.In the exemplary embodiment, front portion 24 has a height d₄ of about7.3 cm, a length d₅ of about 40.4 cm, a length d₆ of about 45.1 cm, anda width d₇ of about 34.0 cm. In the exemplary embodiment, cover 44 has alength d₈ of about 31.4 cm and a length d₉ of about 27.8 cm. Inaddition, in the exemplary embodiment, cover 42 has a height d₁₀ ofabout 4.18 cm, a length d₁₁ of about 15.0 cm, and a length d₁₂ of about9.6 cm.

Finally, the inventive system is provided in an aesthetically pleasingouter shape suitable for use on the side of a house.

While various descriptions of the present invention are described above,it should be understood that the various features can be used singly orin any combination thereof. Therefore, this invention is not to belimited to only the specifically preferred embodiments depicted herein.

Further, it should be understood that variations and modificationswithin the spirit and scope of the invention may occur to those skilledin the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedientmodifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from thedisclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention are to be included as further embodiments of thepresent invention. The scope of the present invention is accordinglydefined as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A radon vent fan system comprising: an enclosure having an air inletand an air outlet disposed in aligned relation to one another; anassembly having a motor and an impeller associated therewith, theassembly retained in the enclosure; wherein the enclosure provides afirst condensate path between the air inlet and the air outlet to directcondensate substantially away from the assembly and to the air inlet,the first condensate path formed of a channel proximate an inner wall ofthe enclosure.
 2. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein theenclosure comprises a front portion and a rear portion demountablycoupled to each other.
 3. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, whereinthe front portion and rear portion are coupled to each other in aclamshell fashion.
 4. The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein theair inlet is entirely formed in the rear portion.
 5. The radon vent fansystem of claim 2, wherein the air outlet is formed by combining thefront portion and rear portion.
 6. The radon vent fan system of claim 2,wherein the front portion has a cover demountably coupled thereto. 7.The radon vent fan system of claim 2, wherein the channel is integrallyformed with the front portion.
 8. The radon vent fan system of claim 2,wherein the motor is coupled to the front portion.
 9. The radon vent fansystem of claim 1, further comprising a compartment adjacent the airinlet and in communication therewith.
 10. The radon vent fan system ofclaim 9, wherein the compartment comprises an opening in communicationwith a region proximate the impeller.
 11. The radon vent fan system ofclaim 9, wherein the channel is in communication with the compartment.12. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the channel is formedwhen the front portion and the rear portion are demountably coupled toeach other.
 13. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the airinlet and air outlet are in aligned relation with respect to a firstaxis, and the channel substantially extends parallel to the first axis.14. The radon vent fan system of claim 13, wherein the enclosure furtherincludes a wall disposed transverse to the first axis for permittingbuild-up of static pressure capability of the impeller.
 15. The radonvent fan system of claim 1, wherein the air inlet is disposed transverseto the air outlet.
 16. The radon vent fan system of claim 15, whereinthe air inlet is disposed substantially perpendicular to the air outlet.17. The radon vent fan system of claim 1, wherein the channel isintegrally formed with the enclosure.
 18. A radon vent fan systemcomprising: an enclosure comprising an inlet and an outlet disposed inaligned relation to one another with respect to a first axis, theenclosure formed of a first portion and a second portion demountablycoupled to each other; an assembly having a motor and an impellerassociated therewith, the assembly retained in the enclosure; a firstcondensate path between the inlet and the outlet to direct condensatesubstantially away from the assembly and toward the inlet, the firstcondensate path comprising a channel proximate an inner wall of theenclosure and substantially extending parallel to the first axis, thechannel in communication with a compartment adjacent to the inlet andthe compartment in communication with the inlet; a second condensatepath between a region proximate the impeller and the compartment. 19.The radon vent fan system of claim 18, wherein the enclosure furthercomprises a wall disposed transverse to the first axis for permittingbuild-up of static pressure.
 20. The radon vent fan system of claim 18,wherein the inlet is disposed substantially perpendicular to the outlet.